by Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay

Ch. 12 Poll: Cicilline, Langevin With Substantial Leads

Democrats Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are pulling out to comfortable leads over their opponents just five weeks from election day. The channel 12 numbers in the 1st District peg Cicilline at 48 percent, Republican John Loughlin at 29 percent with 22 percent undecided and one percent not responding.

In the 2nd District incumbent Jim Langevin has an even bigger bulge. The survey puts Langevin at 54 percent, Republican Mark Zaccaria at 24 percent with 22 percent undecided.

The poll of 250 likely voters in each district was supervised by veteran Rhode Island pollster Joe Fleming and carries an error margin of 6.2 percent

The Cicilline total is notable for his ability so far to bring base Democratic voters who supported his opponents in the primary, particularly the campaigns of Bill Lynch and David Segal, into his fold. But Loughlin does well among independent voters, according to the survey. Cicilline and Loughlin are in a statistical dead heat among independents, with Cicilline holding 37 percent, Loughlin winning support of 34 percent and 29 percent undecided.

Loughlin has a huge lead among Republicans, with 72 percent of GOP voters supporting him. But Cicilline has an equal domination among Democrats; 75 percent of Democratic voters support him.

Loughlin continues to be plagued by a lack of money for the big run of television commercials he needs to make this race more competitive.